March, 1912. 



History of the Month. 



Photo.] 



[C. J. Frank. 



The Delegates of the First Interstate Coiisress of the Australian Iiidepeiideut Workers' Union. The President, 

 Mr. Spencer, is the tliird from the left in the middle row, and Mr. J. T. Packer, the Secretary, is the fourth. 



Mr. Justice Higgins hss called a 

 The Arbitration confi-n-nce in which the Adelaide, 

 Court. (hg Mellx)urne, and the Brisbane 



tramway companies Jiave been 

 compelled to take part, the grounds of ' the 

 compulsion Ijeing that the question of badges 

 was l)eing awsiden-d in each of these States, 

 and that therefor.- an interstate dispute was 

 threatened. The case is being heard as I write, 

 and it is imi)ossiWe to hazard an opinion as to 

 the result. It doi-s seem a pity, however, apart 

 from the constitutional powers that may ' be in- 

 voked, that the Brishim- strike and its causes could 

 not have U-en settled on their own merits. It is a 

 matter that has concermd Brisbane verv seriously, 

 :ind that city has made such a brave stand over the 

 attack u[)on it, that the rest of the States might lie 

 «<.|1 ,.,.,'••■ t I let her finish it. 



There arc .some asjxrcts of the ca.-;e 



Mr. lishcr t|,.it j;ive cause for grave thoughts. 



Refuses Troops. ;^,^ |.j,h„ refu.s.-d the re.|iiest for 



military assistance, although the 

 d.-mand was urg;-nt and evident. It will he in- 

 teresting to se<' what tlie outcome of this will 

 Ik*. It is understood that Mr. Denman is 

 not willing to lei ili.- matter rpst where it 

 is Wi.,.., .1,,, gtgfj.j; roiiM-nted to Feder.ition. thev 



surrendered their authority over military and naval 

 matters on the distinct understanding that the Com- 

 monwealth fSrces should be at the States' disposal 

 if need arose. Now the only disputes that render 

 military interference necessary that are likely to 

 arise are those arising out of industrialism, for in 

 the whole range of one's imagination one cannot 

 discover anything else likely to cause riot, and it 

 must have been with possibilities like these in view, 

 that the clauses in tin' Constitution were inserted. 

 .And yet Mr. Fisher refu.ses. h would Ik- intere.sting 

 to know what Mr. Fisher's attitude would lie if em- 

 ployers i)anded together, stoi)ped f<,K)d sujiplios, held 

 up transit, and then passed up the streets in mobs 

 and threatened inoffensive citizens. If .1 Labour 

 Ministry h.ippened to be in power, and asked Mr. 

 Fisher for aid, one may take his answer for granted. 

 Such outrageous conduct would have to be stopped. 

 Tr.iiiis Wl^lIld h.irdly move tpiickly enough to carry 

 triMips to suppress the disorder. 



And the reason Mr. Fisher gave as 

 His the ground of his refusal was that 



Imperturbability. [^^ thought the men— the strikers- 

 were Uhaving very well. It was 

 an unworthy answer. It denoted a puerile incapa- 

 city to grasp a serious situation, and threw a flood 



